Karius Discusses Turning Down Olympic Spot

Prior to his signing with Liverpool, Loris Karius wasn't one of the top German goalkeepers on our radar. So, when he completed the £4.7 million move, there was an open question as to if or when Karius would displace Simon Mignolet. The impending Rio Olympic Games also muddied the waters for those trying to predict who would wear the gloves and coveted lime-green kit come August.

Although neither Jürgen Klopp nor Loris Karius (nor Simon Mignolet) have come right out and said who the new number one will be, we received the strongest indication yet, thanks to a Karius interview with The Echo.

"I spoke with the manager and we said that it didn't make sense for me to go to the Olympics as I would miss the first two league games of the season and of course I want to play in them," Karius said. "We agreed together I wouldn't be going (to Rio). First I spoke with Jurgen and then together we spoke with the German people who wanted me to go. The priority is the club. It's more important that I am available for the start of the season."

Earlier reports implied that Karius was passed over for the Olympic squad, but the above statement indicates that Karius wasn't interested for a very clear reason: namely, to start the season between the sticks for Liverpool. In trying to read between the lines, this statement strongly hints at what we've hoped (if not suspected) from the beginning, that Karius is displacing Mignolet straight away. Moreover, Klopp must have said something along these lines to the player, causing him to eschew his hopes of Olympic glory.

"What we've talked about stays with us," Karius said, when pressed for further details, "Of course I know that a club like this has more competition. It's a bigger club and better players means more competition. I am not scared or anything. If I was, I wouldn't have come here. I have a good feeling. I wouldn't come here just to sit on the bench. That doesn't make sense for me."

Today marks exactly one month before Liverpool kick off their Premier League campaign against Arsenal. Expect Karius to be in goal, and Mignolet to be on the bench at the Emirates.